Pole Building Size?

[jmusser15]

Well I haven't owned my tractor even a year yet and have acquired a brush hog, tiller, box-blade, quick attach snow plow, forks, 2 bottom plow and now I am faced with the dilemma of "Where do I put all this stuff"? Well I think it is time to build a pole building. I have a budget to stick to so I am torn between a 30'x40'x10' or 30'x32'x12'. I would like some input as to the pro's and con's of these two sizes. I would like a 12' eave height but I am wondering if it is worth a square footage tradeoff. I think a 10' eave height would work, but not sure if there is a scenario I may not be thinking about that I would need a 12' eave height for. Thanks.

 

[ace10]

I had a 24X27 building built a few years back. It's purpose is strictly to house machines. Right now it houses my Bobcat and my 0turn, but it is intended to house a larger tractor also. I went with 9' OH doors, and now I'm glad I did as opposed to a shorty 8' door. I can fit a pretty large machine through those doors. If I had to do it agian, I'd do with 10' doors and not worry about anything.

My building is squeezed into a tight corner of my property so it's size was constrained by easements, setbacks, a windbreak and the future site of a horsebarn.

I never planned on housing attachments in the building. I'll get a cheap run-in shed for that purpose. It would be nice to have everything inside on a level concrete floor, but that's expensive and might be a pain to drive in to a smallish building to swap things out. Right now, I leave my Bobcat buckets outside (basically anywhere) because it's easy to hook them up.

If you've got the space, take the bigger building with 9' doors. But without knowing what size tractor you have, i wonder if it's practical to drive in and maneuver around in either of your proposed sizes.

 

[Kyle241]

I built a 24x32x12 garage for my tractor and am glad I went with the 12'. I can store a lot of stuff hanging from the ceiling that keeps the floor clear for my tractor and implements. I ended up with only 9' doors and agree with the other poster that 10' would be ideal IMHO.

 

[raasd]

I would go with the 12' side walls and taller doors. Conditions may change in future where you would need the taller building. You can always add a couple more sections on to a pole building if you need more square footage in the future but it is pretty tought to make it 2 foot taller. We have a 40X60 shop with 14 foot sidewalls and 3 14' overhead doors on the gabel end. We can back trailers, trailers, or campers in. Its nice to have the flexibility to do it all. We also have in floor heat that is really nice. I know it is expensive but if you plan on heating it ever that is the way to go.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I built mine with an 11' ceiling and 10' overhead doors with a 14' wide 2/12 pitch overhang on the south side to park equipment in. Of course since I just built the place it is full of assorted stuff and I have enough room to park my tractor in it. I went 30x50 all concrete floor but like others said if you have to budget somewhere now don't skimp on height. I like parking the tractor in the overhang better than the concrete floor so that when I pull in with mud on the tires I don't have to clean the floor. Plus it marks its resting spots now and then.

 

[RoMad]

My class C motor home will fit in a 12', but not a 10' high building. I am also planning a pole barn and will go with the 12' height because of my motor home.

 

[LD1]

I would first have to ask what sized tractor you have? And what is the height to the top of your ROPS?? This will determine the door height you need, and thus what your ceiling height has to be in order to clear the door.

And I would build as big as you possible can afford, and put as many doors on it as you can. I try to keep the implements where I can get to any one of them without having to move others out of the way. This makes them take up more room, and the more doors make it easier.

 

[teg]

His Tractor Make & Model is a Montana U4384 - You can look in his profile to see a photo, too.

I would go with the higher but smaller barn and when time come, add lean-to or overhangs on the sides for your outdoor storage.

 

[Stormtruck2]

I suggest a 14' door. That way no matter what you purchase it will fit in. My motorhome was 12'6". My shed will be a 40X64 concrete floored with radiant heat. The tallest legal vehicle is 13'6" tall (tractor trailer rigs). If you only need 8 foot of height, you only open the door 8'. With a 9' door its hard to get a 12' opening.:laughing:

 

[AKwelder]

Build tall, and set it so you can add on or put a lean-to roof around it. A tall eve allows you to put a roof off the side.

Like others have said, you can always add on, but making it taller isn't easy